It’s “March Madness” but that doesn’t mean we all need to live the part. Viktor Frankl said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Those stimuli are all around us in our daily lives – and can result in physical pain or emotional trauma.
Pain is inevitable. We have the power to choose our response.
Suffering and negative thinking tends to make bad situations worse. Our thoughts can make us miserable, which can then exacerbate the pain we feel. It’s a vicious cycle that can eventually lead to anxiety or depression.
Breaking the negative thinking or self talk isn’t easy. But it’s not impossible either. Suffering is optional.
Be mindful.
Start with a mantra. I am not my pain.
Breathe like you love yourself. Take a deep breath and exhale. Take one minute and just focus just on your breathing. Slow, deep, mindful breaths in and out.
Feel your muscle tension ease, at least for that minute. And then perhaps you can try it again throughout your day.
Hoping this is a mindful Monday for you. I know these steps won’t cure chronic or acute pain or anxieties or depression. But perhaps they can help you take a few minutes out of your day to practice some mindfulness and some self-love, and help you in the road to ease your suffering.
Cheers!
Cynthia
My Inspired Fibro Life 
Yes! I’m going to try. 💜
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💜 I hope it works. I kept repeating this yesterday, myself!
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love this reminder on the letter board!
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Thanks! ☺️ Sometimes we all need a little reminder.
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I completely agree with the letterboard. One thing I have learned as a nurse and patient advocate is that our mindset is our greatest ally, or our biggest enemy. Knowing how to turn our thoughts around can drastically help change our daily outlook on life and help us deal with our ailments in a more beneficial light.
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I love the way you put that! It is so true. Life is 10% what happens to us 90% how we react to things.
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I’ve just started following your blog today and I’m really glad I found you so thank you for leaving a comment on mine so that I could! I love your letter boards, this is such an awesome idea.
An interesting one too because being mindful is hard with chronic pain, but we do need to remember we’re not out pain or our illness, and a shift in perspective or distractions from pain can really help. xx
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Thanks, dear. Sometimes a mindset shift is difficult, but I do my best to look for the positive!
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